Jordan’s king endorses Palestinian reconciliation deal

By JOSEF FEDERMANOctober 22, 2017

FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2017 file photo, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, left receives Jordan's King Abdullah II at his headquarters, in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Jordan's king has endorsed a fledgling Palestinian reconciliation agreement that is meant to end a decade-old political and ideological split between rivals Hamas and Fatah. Abdullah II expressed support for the Egyptian-brokered deal after meeting Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017 with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of Fatah. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File)

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan’s king on Sunday endorsed a fledgling Palestinian reconciliation agreement that is meant to end a decade-old political and ideological split between rivals Hamas and Fatah.

King Abdullah II expressed support for the Egyptian-brokered deal after meeting Sunday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who heads Fatah.

The Islamic militant Hamas seized the Gaza Strip in 2007, leaving Abbas with autonomous enclaves in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The palace said that the king “affirmed Jordan’s full support for this agreement” which it said would strengthen Palestinian unity. Jordan, which considers itself a key Mideast mediator, was not directly involved in reconciliation efforts.

Under an emerging deal, an Abbas-led government would run Gaza, but critical issues remain unresolved.

The U.S. and Israel say an unrepentant Hamas cannot be part of a Palestinian government.

They each have reiterated long-standing demands by the international community that Hamas renounce violence and recognize Israel’s right to exist — conditions the militant group rejects.

The Palestinians are discussing an arrangement in which Hamas would not be part of the government but would likely continue to wield some external influence through its powerful military wing. It is unclear whether that will satisfy the international community.

Last week, White House Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt traveled to Cairo to speak to Egyptian officials about the reconciliation process. Greenblatt has been shuttling throughout the region in hopes of relaunching peace talks, which collapsed in 2014.

A senior U.S. official from Greenblatt’s office said Sunday that Egypt had expressed a “strong desire” to help American peace efforts and improve conditions for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.

“The United States welcomed such efforts and the two sides agreed to use their best efforts to work together, as well as with the Palestinian Authority, Israel, Jordan and others in the region to explore all available opportunities to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinians living in Gaza,” the official said. “Such assistance will require the international community to join together to fund projects that will tangibly and positively impact all Palestinians.”

The official, who was not authorized to talk to the media on the record, spoke on condition of anonymity.